Brig. Gen Patterson to command Army Signal Center of Excellence

FORT GORDON, GA -- The Department of the Army has announced that Brig. Gen. LaWarren V. Patterson, a native of Portsmouth, Va., has been selected for promotion, and a new position as the commanding general, U.S. Army Signal Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon.

He will replace Maj. Gen. Alan R. Lynn at a change of command ceremony to be held at Fort Gordon July 25. With assumption of command, Patterson will become the Army's 36th Chief of Signal.

The U.S. Senate recently confirmed the selection of Patterson for promotion to major general.
He is currently commanding general of 7th Signal Command (Theater), headquartered at Fort Gordon. Upon relinquishing command of 7th SC(T) on July 24, he will be frocked to major general. He will be formally promoted at a later date.

"Brigadier General Patterson's selection for promotion to major general is recognition by the Army leadership of not only his outstanding performance of duty, but also his potential to serve in even more challenging assignments," said Maj. Gen. Jennifer L. Napper, commanding general, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command. "Warren commands the largest, most diverse and complicated of our Theater Signal Commands, and it is due to his personal leadership and continual outreach to the commands he supports that they have been so successful. I expect great things from Warren in the future!"

Patterson graduated from Norfolk State University, receiving his commission as a second lieutenant in the Signal Corps in 1982, and earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications. He also holds a Master of Science Degree in General Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Masters in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

As commanding general of 7th Signal Command, he directs operations and defense of the Army's LandWarNet in the Western Hemisphere. 7th Signal Command provides unity of command for network operations in the Army North and Army South Areas of Operations, consolidating many loosely affiliated networks into a single standardized network enterprise.

Through its three theater strategic signal brigades, Network Enterprise Centers at each Army installation, and two Theater Network Operations and Security Centers, the command delivers critical IT solutions, capabilities, and services to the Army, supporting war fighting, generating forces, and intergovernmental, interagency and civil authorities.

Patterson most recently served as the Chief, Portfolio Management Division, Governance Acquisition and Chief Knowledge Office Directorate, Office of the Army Chief Information Officer/G-6, and as Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command.

His career has encompassed a wide range of command and staff positions, beginning with assignments as a Battalion Signal Officer and Signal Platoon Leader at Fort Hood, Texas. He has commanded at every level, including company command of the 85th Light Equipment Maintenance Company, battalion command of the 440th Signal Battalion, and brigade command of the 1st Signal Brigade.

Other key assignments have included Squadron Signal Officer and Division Radio Officer with the 3rd Infantry Division, selection for the Joint Chiefs of Staff's (JCS) Intern Program, deployment to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Storm, Army Personnel Services Command Signal Branch Lieutenants and Captains Assignment Officer, and Special Assistant to the U.S. Commander, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea.